PRE-SIDESTEP DAYS

Approval Rating: T for violence, weird self-dehumanization. ~300 words Pairing: None Summary: Prompt: write a short snippet featuring your Sidestep doing (or discovering!) something that makes them happy at the farm, before they escaped for the first time. Sidestep fights for the approval of her handler. (3/6/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

THE SIDESTEP DAYS

Guilt Rating: G, no warnings.  ~300 words. Pairing: Pre-Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Summary: Prompt: How would they react to injury/misfortune befalling their partner? Do they feel at fault? Sidestep apologizes to Ortega for failing to protect him in a fight. (1/25/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Too Close Rating: T for gratuitous swearing and blood/medical stuff. ~3.6k words Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Summary: Sidestep barely survived the fight with Psychopathor and now she needs to deal with her wounds.Oh, and the fact that Ortega kissed her.  Fuck. (07/26/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Unaired Interview Rating: G for everyone. ~300 words Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Summary: Prompt: Sidestep gets interviewed (Except not LOL) (06/16/21) (Read on AO3)

Carry You Home Rating: T for drinking I guess lol.  ~300 words. Pairing: Pre-Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Summary: Prompt:  '“I’m not carrying you”(and then yes they did carry them)’ Riley goes out drinking with Ortega. (08/16/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Unwanted Ambulance Ride Pairing: There’s is only fear and anger here lol (but technically Chargestep) Rating: G/T? ~150 words Summary: Prompt: Scare Sidestep Shitless in ten sentences or less (06/05/21) (Read on AO3)

Nickname Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T for blood/injury. ~400 words Summary: Prompt: Use the words trembling, blue, seconds. Sidestep takes care of Ortega after the Catastrofiend guts him. (05/30/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Frustrated kisses Pairing:  Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: G, no warnings.  ~300 words Summary: Prompt: Random number selection from kiss prompt list, 400 words/30 minute timer.  “Frustrated kisses” Sidestep pulls a too-dangerous stunt and Ortega isn’t impressed. (2/14/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Sweet Tooth Pairing:  Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: G for fluffy times. ~350 words Summary: Prompt: Write a little something inspired by your Sidestep's primary vice . Ortega has a surprise for Sidestep for her “birthday”. (12/11/2021) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Stopping the Surge Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T for blood, canonical minor character death. ~1.6k words Summary: Prompt: holding onto the other’s shoulders for support Ortega thought he and everyone else on that beach was a goner. That the city was next.  No way to defend against the Nanovores.  And then they just stopped. (Ricardo POV) (10/11/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Rideaway Relief Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T for blood and swearing. ~2k words Summary: Sidestep needs to get out of the city after the Nanosurge has left her mental shields completely wrecked and ask Ortega for help.  Ortega takes the opportunity to scold her for being stubborn and reckless with her health (again.) (05/30/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Messy Stakeout Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: G for goofballs. ~400 words Summary: Prompt: “putting a hand over the other’s mouth to shut them up” for Ric and Riley! A stakeout goes sideways when Sidestep tries to get Ortega to shut up. (12/30/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Dance with me Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: G for everyone. ~1.1k words Summary: Prompt: Dancing with each other. Sidestep is over at Ortega's apartment for dinner and he talks her into dancing with him.  It doesn't take much to convince her. (06/25/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

No interruptions Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: G for everyone. ~500 words Summary: Prompt: Pre-HB years. You just jammed the door of the HQ office supply closet with a screwdriver because you need to be alone with Ortega far from the cameras and augh, far from Steel’s shifty eyes. The door clicks locked. Ortega turns to you. Write / draw the scene that follows from your Sidestep’s POV. (05/10/23) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Exaggerating for kisses Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T for alcohol. ~500 words Summary: Prompt: “I’ve had a terrible day at work so just kiss me” Ricardo maybe exaggerates about how bad his day was for smooches. (08/21/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Electric Touch Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T for alcohol. ~400 words Summary: Prompt: something short (<400 words) and horny (it’s about the anticipation). Challenge: no use of hands, mouth, blush. Sidestep and Ricardo get a little handsy after drinking. (07/13/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Skin deep Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T for blood, self-hatred.  ~1.4k words Summary: Sidestep hangs out with Steel and Ortega as they talk about old missions, and Ortega says something she wishes she could un-hear. (12/16/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Seeing ghosts Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T for unreality, blood.  ~300 words Summary: During a debrief in the hospital, Ortega looks to Sidestep for answers. (07/22/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Words not spoken Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T, heavy grief. ~2.2k words Summary: He always wanted to see her apartment.  But not like this.  Not without her in it. (Ricardo POV) (08/24/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

It woke up Pairing: nope everything is broken now lol Rating: T I guess but TW medical horror/suicide ideation. ~400 words Summary: Prompt fill using  rain, still, edge or, humid, slow, grasp. Sidestep wakes up at the Farm after the Heartbreak Incident. (06/13/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Debrief Pairing: Past Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T, nonconsentual manhandling, dehumanization. ~900 words Summary: Prompt : 13. “That’s not how it happened.”, E. Memory, IV. Make it an interview scene Interview tape of a Sidestep debrief/interrogation at the Farm (07/06/2022) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Time doesn’t heal Pairing: Past Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T, suicide ideation, mourning, canon-typical angst, ~1.8k words Summary: Four people reminisce about the fallen vigilante Sidestep on the third anniversary of the Heartbreak Incident.  One person knows she isn’t dead. (02/25/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

THE DAYS OF RECKONING

The return Pairing: Past Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T  for violence, telepathic shenanigans, embracing villainy. ~2500 words Summary: Something wicked returns to Los Diablos.  (Steel POV) (03/08/23) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Same old ice cream Pairing: None Rating: T for general Steppy self-loathing I guess lol. ~500 words Summary: Prompt: Your step revisiting a place they used to go a lot back in the day, is it still there, how has it changed? A week before being found in the diner, Sidestep revisits some old memories. (06/18/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Alive and here Pairing: Old flame Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: G/T? Retribution spoilers. ~700 words Summary: Prompt: Descriptions of your sidestep + Optional challenge of not using colours and sizes Ortega finds out that the specter of his past may not actually be a ghost. (06/06/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Just training Pairing:Past Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: G, no warnings. ~1k words Summary: Prompt fill: POV switch: rewrite / riff on a canon scene from Rebirth or Retribution, but from the perspective of another character present rather than through Sidestep’s eyes. A re-write of the scene in Rebirth where Ortega first meets the puppet, from his perspective.  (07/21/21, pub 03/25/23) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Day in the Life Pairing: None Rating: G/T, no warnings. ~600 words Summary: Prompt fill: A day in the life of your Step, past/present or future, you choose. Optional twist: The POV can't be Sidestep. (06/20/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Water Plant Security Recording Pairing: hints of future Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep/Lady Argent Rating: G, wholesome Rat Kingness. ~300 words Summary: Prompt: A recording of Sidestep without them knowing it. Domestic Villain armor maintenance and gossip with a rat pentacle. (07/11/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

No fly zone Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: G/T, no warnings. ~700 words Summary: Herald has a chat with Ortega after kidnapping Sidestep to a roof and getting himself punched. (07/17/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Strawberry Kisses Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T for swearing and alcohol. ~500 words Summary: Even after seven years, he still keeps Sidestep’s favorite soda on hand.  She doesn't want to explore the implications of why.  She can't not, though. (05/15/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Breathe dammit Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T for near death experiences Summary: Prompt: write the car crash or the hospital waiting from the point of view of Ortega, or, alternatively, any of the main cast dealing with your Sidestep being injured. (07/21/21, pub. 02/06/23) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Scrubbing old wounds Pairing: Mostly Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T for PSTD, medical trauma, canon-typical angst. ~1.7k words Summary: At some point after the wreck and moving into Ortega’s apartment to heal, Sidestep has to tackle how to get clean.  It dredges up a lot of old memories and fears. (04/21/23) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Old and new Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: G, no warnings. ~300 words Summary: Prompt: forehead against forehead, I missed you kisses (08/06/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Taking it back Pairing: Lady Argent/Sidestep Rating: T for PSTD, past trauma, dehumanization. ~2.3k words Summary: Sidestep lets Lady Argent give her a haircut.  Something more like the old days. (08/21/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Sleep is for the weak Pairing: Lady Argent/Sidestep Rating: T for self-harm/suicide ideation, Retribution spoilers. ~300 words Summary: Prompt: “You can put your strength down.  I”m sitting here with you at your kitchen table.  You don’t need to say anything.” Argent thinks Sidestep needs to sleep more.  She's right. (08/13/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Nighttime Scars Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T, suicide/self-harm discussion. ~1.1k words Summary: Prompt: foreheads touching Sidestep finally spends the night with Ortega and he wakes her with a nightmare.  He wants to talk about it, of course. (07/10/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Soft kisses Pairing: Lady Argent/Sidestep Rating: G for everyone. ~400 words Summary: Prompt: "Your lips are really soft" Sidestep and Argent snuggle and talk about Argent’s peculiarities. (09/13/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Coffee Crimes Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: G for saccharine fluff.  ~300 words Summary: Prompt: B Dylan Hollis Prompts, 24 Honey, you can’t dilute a war crime- make Ortega say it please Sidestep makes a hot mess in Ortega’s kitchen with fancy coffee drinks. (12/14/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

First time for everything Pairing: Lady Argent/Sidestep Rating: G for baking fluff lol. ~1k words Summary: Prompt: kitchen counter make-outs Argent teaches Sidestep how to bake, starting with a classic: chocolate chip cookies. (09/28/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Different Origins, Same Heartbeats Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep/Lady Argent Rating: G for absolutely saccharine fluff. ~1.3k words Summary: Prompt: Listening to the other's heartbeat After Sidestep makes an off-color joke about her lack of humanity, Argent decides to prove otherwise to her.  Ortega helps and hinders. (06/28/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Keeping up appearances Pairing: Lady Argent/Sidestep Rating: T I guess, just play violence. ~900 words Summary: Prompt: kisses that start of passionate but grows more delicate A fight with Argent turns amorous after Sidestep tries to retreat with herr stolen data. (09/14/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Outside, looking in Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep/Lady Argent Rating: T, canon typical angst/self loathing. ~800 words Summary: Prompt: write a snippet centered on your Sidestep’s HB scar—the feelings it triggers, its effects, a moment that worsens it or that soothes it, anything you like as long as their scar is the focus Sidestep gets lost in introspection where she used to be comforted.  Ricardo and Argent sooth her. (2/19/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Never tell Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: G, slightly angsty fluff. ~350 words Summary: Prompt: "Were you ever going to tell me?" Ortega asks Sidestep about their tattoos. (3/19/23) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Dog’s eye view Pairing: Chen & Spoon & Sidestep Rating: G for dog time Summary: Prompt: Write a piece about your step from the perspective of Spoon Spoon and Chen meet Sidestep at the dog park. (3/19/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Sleepy kisses Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep/Lady Argent Rating: G for saccharine fluff. ~300 words Summary: Prompt: soft kisses while cuddling in bed (08/07/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Naming conventions Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep/Lady Argent Rating: G for saccharine fluff, lil canon typical Steppy depression. ~500 words Summary: Argent wants to know why Sidestep chose what she did for her name. (11/11/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Stale memories Pairing: Sidestep & Chen Rating: T for alcohol, hangovers.  ~600 words Summary: Prompt: Speech prompts, “You’re warm.” Sidestep celebrates an anniversary and goes a little overboard.  Chen kept her from getting into trouble. (06/25/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Trapped Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep/(hinted) Lady Argent Rating: T for panic attack, PTSD.  ~1k words Summary: Prompt: pairing of your choice gets stuck in an elevator together for hours. The power goes out when Sidestep and Ortega are on an elevator.  Sidestep doesn’t handle it well. (4/7/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Short and Sweet (Ortega) Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: G for fluff. ~200 words Summary: Prompt: Write a short, affectionate interaction between your Sidestep and someone they like.   Challenge: 30 min/10 sentences Ortega and Sidestep talk about some of Sidestep’s scars. (11/20/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Short and Sweet (Argent) Pairing: Lady Argent/Sidestep Rating: G for fluff. ~200 words Summary: Prompt: Write a short, affectionate interaction between your Sidestep and someone they like.   Challenge: 30 min/10 sentences Sidestep and Argent have some fun baking cupcakes. (11/20/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Short and Sweet (Chen) Pairing: Chen & Sidestep Rating: G for fluff. ~150 words Summary: Prompt: Write a short, affectionate interaction between your Sidestep and someone they like.   Challenge: 30 min/10 sentences Chen and Sidestep have a little talk at the dog park. (1/31/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Dragged down, pulled up Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T for nightmare imagery/dissociation/self-harm, ~1k words Summary: Sidestep dissociates after a nightmare.  Ortega helps her back to herself. (12/28/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Nightmares (Ortega) Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: TW for death, suicide, blood, violence, general mindfuckery/unreality , ~600 words Summary: Prompt: Write a nightmare… from the perspective of your Sidestep’s RO, that includes Sidestep somehow Ricardo has a rough night. (06/01/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Nightmares (Argent) Pairing: Lady Argent/Sidestep Rating: TW for death, suicide, blood, violence, kinda cannibalism. ~400 words Summary: Prompt: Write a nightmare… from the perspective of your Sidestep’s RO, that includes Sidestep somehow Argent has a rough night. (04/07/22, pub 04/17/23) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Affections Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep/Lady Argent Rating: G for extreme fluff. ~600 words Summary: Prompt: Write your Sidestep showing affection to someone. Physical, mental (if receptive lol), gifts, whatever. Sidestep takes care of Ortega with Lady Argent’s help, and then takes care of her too. (1/16/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Angry Pairing: Lady Argent/Sidestep Rating: G for everyone.  ~500 words Summary: Hero/Villain prompts: “I know you.  You’re me.” Sidestep and Argent have a little chat. (05/27/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

No rest for the wicked Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: G for everyone.  ~700 words. Ortega POV Summary: Ortega tries to get Sidestep to open up about how tired she looks.  It goes as well as expected. (02/21/23) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Empty graves Pairing: Lady Argent/Sidestep Rating: T for some suicide ideation. ~400 words Summary: Just a little rumination about one of Sidestep’s and Argent’s parallels. (05/27/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Naptime Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: G for everyone, fluff. ~700 words Summary: Ortega gets his insomniac girlfriend to get some sleep. (09/18/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Unexpectedly Attached Pairing: Lady Argent/Sidestep Rating: T for injury treatment/blood.  ~350 words Summary: Villain/Hero prompts: ❛ truth is, i didn’t expect to get this attached to you. ❜ for Riley and argent? Sidestep pays a visit to Argent after getting wounded in a fight. (11/22/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Friendly sparring Pairing: Lady Argent/Sidestep Rating: T for suggestiveness lol.  ~2k words Summary: Lady Argent invites Sidestep to HQ late one night to do some sparring.  Things heat up pretty quickly in more ways than one. (12/30/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Movie Magic Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep/(minor) Lady Argent Rating: G for fluffy times  ~350 words Summary: Prompt: Write a plot summary or a scene based on the concept of your step and their ro in a Hallmark esque holiday romance movie plot Sidestep and Ortega discuss Hallmark movies. (12/9/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Blood on the floor Pairing: Lady Argent/Sidestep Rating: T for blood, violence  ~650 words Summary: Prompt: Halloween randomized prompt, I took “Argent” and “blood on the floor” Argent answers Riley’s call for help and finds a very gruesome scene at her base.   (10/15/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Dessert for two Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep/Lady Argent Rating: EXPLICIT, 18+, references past sexual trauma, Retribution spoilers. ~2.5k words Summary: Dessert is missing from lunch until Sidestep is revealed to be on the menu. (06/15/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

The first scar Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T for blood, self-harm, suicide imagery.  ~1.2k words Summary: Sidestep lets Ortega ask her about a very old scar and reveals some details about her first escape from the Farm. (1/23/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Then and now Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep/Lady Argent Rating: G for everyone, fluff. ~400 words Summary: Watching Sidestep sleep, Ortega notices some things that don’t change (10/22/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Unnamed Ficlet Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T for death talk. ~300 words Summary: A painful hypothetical about if Ortega came for Sidestep at the Farm. (10/13/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Home Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: G for everyone. ~300 words Summary: Ortega finds Sidestep in his kitchen in the middle of the night. (07/02/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Who’s side? Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep/Lady Argent Rating: T for some heavier family stuff and what not lol. ~1k words Summary: @sidestepping‘s fic “The Heist” first to put this one into context lol. Riley really only needs rescuing from the machinations of her own web spinning. (12/22/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

FOR FUNSIES (NOT CANON FOR RILEY)

Left behind Pairing: Chen & Sidestep Rating: T for dissociation, PTSD Summary: Prompt: write your Sidestep through a scene / variable / tag you’re excited about but that they do not get in their canon run Rewrite of Chen date after the auction. (05/07/23) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Sidestep Multiverse Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep/Lady Argent, Herald/Sidestep Rating: G for everyone. ~600 words Summary: Write a short interaction between your Sidestep… and someone else’s Sidestep! Or between two of yours if you prefer. BONUS CHALLENGE: drop hints about each of their vice or preferred swear word for personality.  (Featuring @gingerbreton ‘s Lila in Rileyverse) Everyone goes out for coffee.   (05/19/22) (Read on Tumblr)

Villain Reveal Hypotheticals

Pulling your punches Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T for fighting/violence. ~650 words Summary: Prompt: Hero/Villain starter: "You're pulling your punches." Sidestep accidentally reveals herself with her big dumb mouth. (11/24/21) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Too far gone Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep/Lady Argent Rating: T for fighting/violence. ~550 words Summary: Prompt: "Stop! Please, stop! You’re going to kill her!" Sidestep goes too far with her villainy and Ortega tries to take her out. (01/10/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Caught Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep/ (hinted) Lady Argent Rating: T for canon-typical angst. ~600 words Summary: Prompt: 14. “Take this, you look like shit.”, E. Memory, X. Put your character in a situation they can’t get out of easily Sidestep wakes up in Ortega’s care after he beats her and the jig is up. (05/05/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

Caught part 2 Pairing: Ricardo Ortega/Sidestep Rating: T for canon-typical angst. ~600 words Summary: Prompt: 'Look me in the eye and tell me that - I dare you' Ortega demands to know why Sidestep turned to villainy.  Continuation of Caught. (08/08/22) (Read on Tumblr) (Read on AO3)

GIFT FIC

Glancing up, you see Hollow Ground staring at your ancient flip phone with something akin to distaste and morbid curiosity. You massage your temples and sigh. Bad enough having Ortega judge your lifestyle, now her too? If you told him how similar she is to him, it might give him an aneurysm. 

“A safe one," you grunt as the phone vibrates again in your hand, and you flip it open, staring at the dim screen. “No GPS or any of that other tracking shit." 

“What are you doing that's more important than me? □□”

Your phone is too old to pick up emoticons, but you can guess what's supposed to be there. You can’t say Argent, because she won’t lie for you about things like this. She might even already be with him. A terrible fleeting thought of throwing back “your mother's butt” crosses your mind. You quash that and silently apologize to Tía Elena, considering other options.

“It's so… “ Hollow Ground looks like she's chewing on glass as she mulls it over, trying not to offend you too badly, “... antique.”

“Mhmmm," you hum, pecking out your response. 

“You know, I can get you a better safe phone," she offers, because of course she does. You see her wrinkling her nose out of the corner of your eye as you tap out a response on the number pad. “I have a supplier.”

Despite your fervent attempts to compartmentalize her place in your life, she continues to try breaking out of it to “make things better” for you. Just like Ortega used to back in the day. Still does, really. Maybe you should give her an aneurysm too. 

“You were just too slow on the draw, old man. You're not the only person I socialize with.”

“I like this phone,” you finally answer her. Argent's already made you the same offer, and you turned her down too. You'd be screwed if either of them changes their mind about you. “It does phone things. I get the emergency alerts. I don't need a better phone.”

“As you like," she sighs, but you see her lips twitch with a smile like you've done something expected. Thankfully, your phone buzzes again, and you can look away. 

“Tomorrow, then?”

Oh, good, he takes hints today. “Yeah. Let me know when you escape work.”

“You got it. Tell your friend I say hi! □”

You snap the phone shut with finality this time and clip it back to your belt. “Charge says hi!” you say brightly, just as she sips her drink. 

She chokes on her vodka, glaring at you as she coughs it out. You give her an innocent smile as you sip your own drink. 

“You really are playing a dangerous game there," she mutters once recovered, wiping her mouth with one of her fancy cloth napkins.